Sunday, May 31, 2009

Congratulations go to Renfrewshire's Alyson McKechin, Natasha Qayum and Linsey Stevenson who were part of the West Girls Team that won aginst East Girls at Pollok Golf club today. To read the full report go to the West of Scotland Website

There is ane excellent article on Megan in the Scotland On Sunday Newspaper today -It is in the Up and Coming column by Elspeth BurnsidePlease note the photograph is not by Gillian Kirkwood -- It is the official RLCGA Photograph

Saturday, May 30, 2009

Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm), recently crowned Scottish Champion, scored 78 today (CSS 78) in the 1st round of the St Rule Trophy. She found the windy conditions tricky especially on the inward half of the New Course at St Andrews --- To read the full report and all the scores go to Gillian Kirkwood Website

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm) and Alyson McKechin (Elderslie) have been selected as reserves for the European Young Masters, Golf National (Albatros) in France 23-25 JulyTo see all the team picks go to the West of Scotland WebsiteMegan Briggs (Kilmacolm) has been selected as a reserve for the Ladies' British Open Amateur Championship, Royal St David's GC 9-13 June and the Irish Ladies Open Amateur Championship, Douglas GC, Cork 20-21 June

Monday, May 25, 2009

The Official Renfrewshire Photograph of Megan Briggs with the Scottish Championship Trophy taken at Kilmacolm Golf Club-- click to enlarge

Depending on your broadband connection let the video load and then press play again and all should be okWant to see some more videos --- CLICK HEREHere are some photos of Megan taken today with the trophy and Winners Gold Medal -- Click on the small thumbnail below of Megan

Marion Stewart and Carol Fell get their hands on the Scottish Championship Trophy - Click to enlarge- Thanks to Megan for taking this photograph !

Marion Stewart (Kilmacolm) and Carol Fell (Ranfurly Castle) played their 1st round tie of the County Rosebowl over Kilmacolm today.Having just met Megan with her huge big Trophy and being allowed to get their hands on it they decided to try and be like Megan and play good golf !!!Not quite in the same league as Megan !!!However, it was a great game ( a square match -- both with the same handicaps - 10)--- Marion was out in 2 over par --- 37 despite having a double bogey at the par 3, 218 yard 6th hole. Carol was out in 40 and was 3 down.She then had a good wee run and got it back to all square at the 13th. Marion then went one up at the 14th -- to which Carol replied with a birdie at the 15th. Marion then closed off the tie when Carol 3 putted the 16th and bogied the 17th

Megan Briggs, the 95th Scottish women's closed amateur golf champion, has been speaking exclusively to Kirkwoodgolf.co.uk.
We thought you would like to hear what she had to say about her victory at Southerness.
"I am studying law at Strathclyde University and have just finished scond year.
"I am going to play in the British women's open amateur championship at Royal St David's Golf Club, Harlech in North Wales in a couple of weeks.
"To win the 'Scottish' is a great honouor and something that all Scottish amateurs aspire to and practise for. My exams finished the week before Southerness, which meant that I could focus on my golf and the competition.
"During the championship, my driving was very accurate, which was crucial in the wind. Also my short game was very steady and it probably what saw me right through to the final.
"I would once again like to thank the SLGA and Southerness for the fantastic week - and also my Dad for caddying, seeing as I forgot to thank him in my speech!"

New Scottish women's amateur golf champion Renfrewshire's Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm) has forced herself into contention for a place in the Great Britain & Ireland team by winning her national title at windy Southerness on Saturday when she beat Louise Kenney (Pitreavie) 4 and 3 in the final.Neither Megan Briggs nor Louise Kenney was named early last October when the preliminary squad for the Vagliano Trophy match against the Continent of Europe at Hamburger Golf Club, Germany on July 24-25 was announced.But skipper Mary McKenna has said that the Ladies Golf Union Selection committee will choose, after the British women's open amateur championship at Royal St David's Golf Club, Harlech in North Wales from June 9 to 12, nine players who have shown the best form in 2009, whether they are in that prelim squad or not.Incidentally, the winners of the English (Charlie Douglass) and Welsh (Tara Davies) women's title were not in the squad either!Megan needs to follow up her victory at Southerness with a good run in the "British" - and, if she does that, the selectors will surely plump for her as a new GB&I cap.The same goes for Fife champion Louise Kenney, who played great golf to get to the Scottish final - four under par in beating the No 2 seed Kylie Walker in the quarter-finals, but then was let down by her driving on the last day.Next year's 96th Scottish women's closed amateur championship will be played for the first time at Craigielaw and, in 2011, the venue will be Machrihanish.

In addition to Megan winning the Championship Cup last week . Here are a few more prizes that she won. Congratulations also go to Jennifer Jenkins (Ralston) (Pictured lower down in this article --- click to enlarge) in reaching the semi finals of the Clark Rosebowl.

After a gap of 20 years Renfrewshire Ladies' County Golf Association has a new Scottish Champion ---- MEGAN BRIGGS from Kilmacolm. (pictured right)

Renfrewshire County Champion Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm) is the 95th Scottish women's closed amateur champion.She beat Louise Kenney (Pitreavie) by 4 and 3 in the 18-hole final at Southerness Golf Club on the north shore of the Solway Firth this morning.Megan, one down after two holes, took a grip on the final by winning four holes in a row from the fifth.At the turn, Megan was three up on her Scotland international team-mate, Louise Kenney, a 26 year old schoolteacher

FIGURES FOR FIRST NINE HOLESPar ..........4-4-4-3-5-4-3-4-5--OUT 36BRIGGS: 4-5-5-3-5-4-3-4-4--OUT 37 (one over par) Three up KENNEY:4-4-5-3-6-5-4-5-4--OUT 40 (three over par)

Louise Kenney scored her first success since the second hole with a par at the short 10th but fell back to three down again by bogeying the par-4 11th.The 12th was halved in bogey 5s and the long 13th in birdie 4s to leave Megan three up with five to play.Megan made it back-to-back birdies with a 4 at the long 14th to go four up and a half in par 3s at the short 15th ended the final in her favour by 4 and 3.Megan, with three birdies to her credit, was one over par approximately for the holes play. Louise, who had two birdies. was roughly five over par at the finish.

Friday, May 22, 2009

Two first-time finalists, 20-year-old Renfrewshire's Megan Briggs from Kilmacolm, and 26-year-old Louise Kenney from the Pitreavie club, Dunfermline will contest the 18-hole climax to the 95th Scottish women's closed amateur golf championship over the Southerness links on the north shore of the Solway Firth tomorrow morning.Strathclyde University student Megan Briggs, the No 4 seed, won her semi-final at the 19th against Jane Turner (Mortonhall), the 19-year-old British Universities champion and No 8 qualifier.Primary schoolteacher Kenney, the No 10 qualifier, beat her Fife county team-mate, Elaine Moffat (St Regulus), the No 22 qualifier, by 5 and 4 in the second semi-final.Both Briggs, who is a scratch player, and Kenney, who has a +1 rating, played for Scotland in last year's women's home internationals at Wrexham.It will not be a first time in a national match-play final for either player. Briggs lost to Carly Booth in the final of the Scottish Under-18 girls championship at Peterhead in 2007.Kenney won the same title in 2000, beating Carnoustie's Fiona Gilbert in the final.Louise, who spent four years on the US college circuit and was rated one of the best golfers ever to have played for Iowa State University, was roughly level par in her victory over Moffat, who won the Scottish women's championship at North Berwick in 1998 and is now in her 40s. A good effort by Elaine to get as far as the last four.A double bogey 6 at Moffat at the sixth opened the door for Kenney to go one up, a lead she doubled at the next when her opponent, in trouble, conceded. Moffat had more bogey trouble to lose the 12th, 13th and 14th and the match.Megan Briggs has been Renfrewshire women's champion for the past four years, even though she is still only 20. Her match-play experience from events like that pulled her through against Turner who was two up at the turn.Megan won the 11th, 12th and 13th with a birdie-par-birdie run to take a one-hole lead but she bogeyed the 15th to be pulled back to all square. From there in, it was a case of who would have the strongest nerve. The 16th, 17th and 18th holes were halved in par before Megan was conceded the 19th and a place in the final.Megan, who had been two under par in beating fellow international Laura Murray in the morning, was roughly one over par in the semi-final.The final will tee off at 9am on Saturday morning.Thanks go to Colin Farquharson for the report

Megan has beaten Laura Murray of Alford 3/1 this morning in "The Scottish." She now plays Jane Turner of Craigielaw in the Semi Finals at 1.30p.m. today.

Good luck from everyone in the RLCGA.

Elaine Moffat of St. Regulus and Louise Kenny of Pitreavie contest the other Semi Finals.

Congratulations to Jenny Jenkins (Ralston) who reached the Semi Finals of The ClarkRosebowl. Jenny was beaten this morning by Louise Fraser of Kingsknowe. In the other Semi Final Linda Urquhart of Banchory was beaten by Sammy Vass of Tain.In the semi-finals spotlight: Jane Turner v Megan Briggs and Elaine Moffat v Louise Kenney

Megan's Quarter Final Details:

In the battle of the fourth and fifth seeds Megan had been two up after nine but Laura Murray won back the 12th and there was little in it until Megan suddenly produced scoring fireworks. She birdied the long 13th, the long 14th and another par-5 hole, the 16th.Laura Murray was able to halve the 13th and 14th but could not match her opponent's 4 at the 16th. Briggs finished the tie off in the grand style with a 2 at the short 17th, her fourth birdie in the last five holes for a victory that put her in against Jane Turner in the first semi-final.Megan was two under par for the match.The other semi-final will feature the 1998 Scottish champion at North Berwick, Elaine Moffat (St Regulus), and Fife county team-mate Louise Kenney (Pitreavie).

Jennifer Jenkins(Ralston) and Carol Whyte (Windyhill) both progressed to the quarter finals this afternoon and Jennifer managed to win her tie by beating Laura McLardy (Murcar Links) to reach the Semi Final stages of the Clark RosebowlCarol Whyte (Windyhill) was up against Sammy Vass (Tain) and lost 3 and 2 in the afternoon quarter finals

Improved weather brought improved scoring but no change at the top of the qualifying leaderboard in the 95th Scottish women’s amateur golf championship at Southerness links on the shores of the Solway Firth today..Overnight leader Pamela Pretswell, a Glasgow University student and member of the Bothwell Castle club, duly claimed the No 1 seed position among the 32 who advance to the match-play stages. And she underlined her claims to be the favourite with a second-round, one-under-par 72, the best round of the two days, compared with her opening score of 76 in the windblown first day, which was also the best of that day.Big-hitting D&A's Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle), another member of the GB&I squad, again birdied four par-5 holes in returning a 74 for the No 2 qualifying spot on 151.RLCGA Champion Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm) had a terrific round today to equal the par of 73 for the 6010yd course to qualify in 4th place. Clare- Marie Carlton (Fereneze)has also qualified for the match play stages in 15th place. Unfortunatly Renfrewshire's Alyson McKechin (Elderslie), 84-80 for 164, who also qualified had to pull out of the matchplay stages because of examinations later in the week.

Renfrewshire's Jennifer Jenkins (Ralston), Gillian McGinlay (Cochrane Castle) and Carol Whyte (Windyhill) have all qualified for the Clark Rosebowl --- Click Here to see the draw sheet --- Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm) had also qualified but had to withdraw due to exams WELL DONE TO YOU ALL AND GOOOD LUCK

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

The southwesterly half-gale - or maybe it was a full-gale - whipping in off the Solway Firth wreaked havoc in the first qualifying round of the Scottish women's amateur championship over the Southerness links this morning.Bothwell Castle's Pamela Prestwell who won the West of Scotland Championship over Prestwick Golf Club at the beginning of the month was the leader in the clubhouse after today's round. Clare- Marie Carlton had an 80 representing Renfrewshire with Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm)and Alyson McKechin (Elderslie)both on 84 and Eilidh Briggs on 85

This year, for the first time, the McNeil Trophy pictured above will be awarded to the County Team of 3 returning the lowest aggregate scratch score in the 2 qualifying rounds with the 2 bestscorescounting each day. The Trophy, in memory of Kathleen McNeil, Renfrewshire's lateHonorary Life President, has been presented by Miss Marigold Speir, Scottish Champion in 1957. It is very fitting that this trophy will not only be a permanent reminder of the Centenary of Scottish County Golf but to Kathleen who contributed so much to golf and was known by so many lady golfers in Scotland.

The Renfrewshire Team is Megan, Clare-Marie and Eilidh. Play well girls - all of you!

A "fun day" was held at the Mearns Golf Academy with Karyn Burns on 30th April. We had a good turn out and the girls really enjoyed themselves as they had putting and chipping lessons, a few golf related games then set free to launch some drivers off in the teaching bays. It was also great for some of the Junior Conveners to be involved especially Liz Hale and Susan Flemming who devoted their time to help out.Thanks go to Denise Cowan for the report and photograph

Saturday, May 09, 2009

There are times still available for Strathaven Golf Club Ladies Open Day on Thursday 11th June. Times are available from 8.00am to 5.30pm. You may enter singly or in pairs. It is a medal round with scratch and handicap prizes being awarded in both silver and bronze divisions. Times are being allocated on a first come first served basis. Strathaven Golf Club is the venue for this year'sWest of Scotland Inter County Matches. To download an entry form please click below.

Friday, May 08, 2009

29 people braved the elements to play Erskine in the Renfrewshire Spring Meeting today and Jennifer Mack (pictured above at Prestwick on Sunday) was the overall winner of today's event both with the lowest gross and net scores.

On a course which had withstood the torrential downpours of the last week the greens were magnificent as everyone agreed --- Thank you Erskine Golf Club --- it was a treat !!

Wednesday, May 06, 2009

The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews has announced Colin M Brown as Captain for the year 2009 – 2010.Each year the Past Captains meet to confer upon the nomination and the announcement was made today at the Club’s May Business Meeting. The new Captain will assume office later this year following the traditional driving in ceremony on Thursday 24 September 2009.Colin Brown joined The Royal and Ancient Golf Club in 1994. He served on the Finance Committee from 2000 – 2005 and is currently Chairman of the Membership Committee and a member of the General Committee. He is a past Captain of Kilmacolm Golf Club and, in 2001, captained Prestwick Golf Club in its 150th anniversary year. He plays to a handicap of 7.Educated at Glenalmond College, he is a Chartered Accountant and has retired following a career in stockbroking and investment management. He is a former Chairman of the Scottish Stock Exchange and is a Deputy Lieutenant of Renfrewshire.Resident in Kilmacolm, Colin is married to Patricia, also an ardent golfer, who is Vice Captain of Renfrewshire Ladies’ County Golf Association. They have three adult children all of whom attended St Andrews University.MANY CONGRATULATIONS COLIN FROM ALL THE RLCGA MEMBERS

Helen Faulds (Captain of the West Vets) beat Janice Paterson(Drumpellier) 4 and 3 today in strong winds and rain in the Championship Semi Finals at Renfrew today.

Renfrewshire's Linda MacDougall (Greenock) beat Renfrewshire's Maureen Woodhead (Gourock) 3 and 2 in the other Semi Final.In the Bronze Championship, after beating HelenCrichton (Ranfurly Castle) 3 and 1, Anne Donnelly (Whitecraigs) goes forward to play Maureen Rennie of Douglas Park who was given a walkover due to illness by Morag Thomson of Ranfurly Castle.

The West Division Committee is now looking for a suitable day to play the finals and this will be announced as soon as possible.

The closing date for the June Medal over Eastwood on Monday 1st June is the 11th May and applications go to Jean Smith. Please note that the tee off time starts at 9.30 a.m. for this competition. Please make sure you get your entry in and support another County competition.

The "Vets" West Division Championship Semi Finals which were abandoned yesterday afternoon due to flooding are being played today at Renfrew Golf Club at 11a.m. Good luck to Helen Faulds of Douglas Park and Janice Paterson of Drumpellier and our two Renfrewshire girls who are playing each other - Maureen Woodhead of Gourock and Linda McDougall of Greenock.

The Bronze Championship semi final will also take place between Anne Donnelly of Whitecraigs and Renfrewshire stalwart Helen Crichton of Ranfurly Castle.

Monday, May 04, 2009

Our ‘Wee Art Show’ was an amazing success on 24th,25th,26th April, raising over £32,000 for Juvenile Diabetes research! What a success! Our sponsors, artists & supporters made all this possible. We are so grateful to all the RCLGA girls who painted for us & to all the girls who came to buy the lovely art. Our web site is staying open for some time as we are still receiving donations & we will have photos of the event soon! www.theweeartshow.org

Sunday, May 03, 2009

Bothwell Castle’s Pamela Pretswell lived up to her rating as the backmarker in the West of Scotland women’s amateur championship at Prestwick today.Runner-up at Prestwick on 152 with scores of 79 and 73 was former Scotland international Sara Bishop (Windyhill) and Renfrewshire's County Championship Runner Up Clare- Marie Carlton was 3rd.Pamela Pretswell, Susan Wood and Lesley Lloyd won the County Shield for Lanarkshire (3 scores to count) while Renfrewshire (Eilidh Briggs, Alyson McKechin and Natasha Qayum) --- 2 scores to count won the new Junior County Silver Salver, presented by the West Association.

Friday, May 01, 2009

Draw Sheet --- Click to enlargeThe WEST OF SCOTLAND LADIES' CLOSE CHAMPIONSHIP 36 Hole Strokeplay will be held at PRESTWICK GOLF CLUB on SUNDAY, 3rd MAY . --- Megan Briggs, the Holder, is unable to attend as she has been sent by the SLGA to play in the WELSH LADIES' OPEN AMATEUR 54 HOLE STROKE PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP at Royal Porthcawl. Good luck, Megan.

This year, for the first time, the WEST OF SCOTLAND LADIES' COUNTY ASSOCIATION, has presented a new Team Trophy for the under 18's in which each of the four West Counties will nominate three players for whom the best two scores will count in each round.

There is also a Senior Team Trophy in which each of the four West Counties nominate three players for whom the best three scores will count in each round.

Ladies born or
living in what is defined by the Scottish Ladies Golfing Association as Renfrewshire County are
eligible for membership of the
Association, as are members
ofGolf Clubs situated in Renfrewshireand affiliated to the
ScottishGolf'

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